Men’s Swimwear Trends SS13 – Part 1: Swim Briefs & Trunk Shorts

Introduction

It’s that time of year again where beautiful summer days and whimsical notions of holidays come to the forefront of our minds. And one thing that goes hand in hand with summer holidays is swimwear – whether you’re wearing it in Margate or Marbella.

Every year in Miami Beach there is an annual swimwear event that showcases and predicts the popular swimwear trends for both men and women, which heavily influences the design choices of both designer and high street brands the following year. Recently, Judy Steiner, Executive Director of the Swimwear Association of Florida, summarised the changing face of men’s swimwear with the following comment:

“Men’s swimwear offers greater quality, variety, creativity and style than ever, making this July the perfect time to review and purchase the latest and greatest styles.”

The men’s swimwear market is undoubtedly growing with each passing year, and for spring/summer 2013 there are more options available to you than ever before – meaning there is a variant for every body type and personal style.

In this two part article we will be focusing on the four main swimwear trends for men this season: swim briefs, trunk shorts, short swim shorts and board shorts.

Swim Briefs

Swim briefs or Speedo-styles, to drop a brand name, saw a rise in popularity last year following the London 2012 Olympics, where swimmers and divers such as Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and our very own Tom Daley triumphed in their swim briefs.

Obviously swim briefs are extremely small and do not leave a lot to the imagination, so to wear them successfully a fairly decent body and A LOT of confidence is required. On the plus side: if you are serious about your swimming rather than only being concerned with the sartorial side of things, swim briefs are the way to go. And, of course, less material means fewer unsightly tan lines.

If you are considering the swim brief as your SS13 choice, one poignant piece of advice comes from Simon Chilvers, Assistant Fashion Editor at The Guardian, when he encourages you to avoid white:

“Aside from the obvious see-through factor, there is something too flashy about wearing anything tight and white on a beach.”

At Milan fashion week, Versace used their catwalk show as a tool to re-launch their swimwear and underwear line. Their models wore small swim briefs with wide, metallic belts and gladiator sandals to emphasise masculinity and strength. The Versace swim briefs were featured in shades of black, silver and hot pink, along with some on trend vibrant floral pairs.

Similarly at Michael Bastian, the American designer pushed a variety of swimwear styles during his SS13 showcase, which were paired with his signature rugby tops and other preppy staples. Bastian featured muted two-tone styles in soft pastels and white, and proved just how good these can look on an athletic figure with an open shirt or simple pullover:

Men’s Swim Briefs On The Runways At Versace And Michael Bastian SS13

Brand Advocate: D.Hendral

One brand who has fully backed the swim brief as their style of choice for SS13 is luxury underwear specialist D.Hendral. Releasing their first ever men’s swimwear collection this season, rugby pro-turned-model/actor Thom Evans fronts the campaign, which features a variety of classic, neutral shades:

Current Styles

Turning to the high street and online, similar styles in both vibrant and more muted colours can be found at Mr Porter from the likes of Dan Ward and Robinson Les Bains, for those men out there with a bit of spare cash to spend on their swimwear this season.

For those of us more acclimatized to high street prices, the original Speedo swim briefs can be found in most department stores and at ASOS in a variety of colours. Other brands such as J by Jasper Conran also offer similar styles for those men brave enough to dare to bare:

Gucci Swim Briefs

Dan Ward Striped Swim Trunks

Dan Ward Swim Trunks

Versace Ornate Animal-print Swim Trunks

Aussiebum League Briefs

Diesel Leaf-print Swimming Trunks

Jasper Conran Navy Panelled Swimming Briefs

Speedo Navy Endurance Swimming Briefs

Speedo Endurance Brief

Trunk Shorts

Trunk shorts are similar to swim briefs in that they contain relatively little material and are designed to show off your body to its fullest. However, their appeal lies in the fact that they look slightly less like underwear than swim briefs. Think Daniel Craig as 007 in ‘that’ Casino Royale scene where he emerges from the sea like a bronzed Adonis in his baby blue La Perla ‘Grigioperla’ trunk shorts.

In fact, following the release of Casino Royale, sales for trunk shorts sky rocketed as men tried and often failed to replicate the iconic look of Craig – and their popularity has not waned yet.

Daniel Craig Became The Poster Boy For The Style After ‘That’ Casino Royale Scene

Like swim briefs, there is a practical appeal as the tighter material produces less drag in the water for those keen swimmers. In our opinion, they also instantly look more comfortable than swim briefs – for both the wearer and any observers. Again, confidence and a relatively athletic body is key to wearing trunk shorts successfully.

Trunk shorts are also reminiscent of the old school belted swim suits worn by 1950s movie stars lounging around the pool at Chateau Marmont – and it seems this style is again becoming more and more popular this season. For example, H&M are featuring a trunk-style swim short in grey with contrast fabric belt in their latest SS13 beachwear campaign:

Current Styles

Trunk styles can be found at Mr Porter, Debenhams and Selfridges in both block-colours and printed patterns, from brands such as Speedo, Diesel, Hugo Boss and Versace.

Our particular favourite comes from Dan Ward, which features a subtle, striped nautical pattern in beige, blue and white:

H&m Swim Shorts

Dan Ward Short-length Striped Swim Shorts

Robinson Les Bains Capri Short-length Plaid Swim Shorts

Speedo Navy Logo Swim Trunks

Jasper Conran Navy Striped Swimming Trunks

Jockey Black Piped Drawstring Trunks

Versace Animal-print Swim Trunks

Hugo Boss Krill Swim Trunks

Aussiebum Fresh Break Swim Trunks

Aussiebum Seventies Swim Trunks

Diesel Camouflage-print Swimming Trunks

Aussiebum League Twelve Trunks

Final Word

So there we have two key men’s SS13 swimwear styles for men. Tomorrow we will be taking an in-depth look at short swim shorts and board shorts.

In the meantime, if you have any feedback on the swim brief and trunk short trends then, as always, we look forward to your musings. Perhaps you feel that tighter trends such as these have had their day and belong only in professional swimming environments, rather than sartorial circles? Or do you think if you worked hard for your body you should flaunt it?

Let us know your opinion in the comments section below…

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There Are 23 Comments

Simon Posted On 6th June 2013:

Urgh, sadly this is a no for me, I reckon this is one for the more outrageous fashionistos among us. Much as I appreciate small tight brief-style swimwear on a muscled Adonis of a model on a catwalk, I feel that it ought to stay there. Simply put, to pull this look off you literally need the body of a god, and since the majority of us do not have that body, I am shuddering already, envisaging the exposed untoned upper thighs of men on beaches across the world.

Incidentally, I would also disagree with “how good [swim briefs] can look on an athletic figure with an open shirt or simple pullover”. I genuinely think this looks slightly ridiculous, a bit like you half forgot to dress yourself this morning. Gladiator belts? Really? I think I’ll stick to bermudas.

Nick Posted On 23rd August 2013:

Agreed!!

Hal Posted On 6th June 2013:

I guess I’m largely with Simon here.

Speedos tend to look awful on all but the most athletic. Most of us are better off with something a little bit more forgiving. The trunk shorts are better – and have a nicely retro look to them. That said, as you rightly point out, trying to look like Daniel Craig is just likely to show up our physical failings.

As for swimwear as part of a more general outfit, those Versace models are perhaps the campest thing I’ve seen in while (possibly competing with some of the models wearing the sleeveless metallic biker jackets from a while back). I’ll be leaving the shiny sandal/boots behind.

Mark Posted On 6th June 2013:

Sorry to say I agree with the x2 previous posts. Personally I’ll stick with my longer length swim shorts on my hols – and in the meantime I’ll forward this page to my wife so she can giggle and/or ogle the above pics.

Sd Posted On 6th June 2013:

I remember infants school in the late seventies. If you didn’t have your PE kit, you did it in your pants. I also remember some fruit in Oxford Street walking along in pants /trunks, among the other loonies. I think this is a look that a certain man in a certain place at a certain time of day and year, could pull off.

Col Posted On 6th June 2013:

Well, partly in contrast to the others, I’d definitely consider trunk shorts. If you have a half-decent physique, why not? In fact, even if you don’t, you’re at the beach – they’re not that dissimilar to the short shorts that are on trend now anyway.

As for briefs/Speedos, hell no!

Leon Posted On 7th June 2013:

Coming from a warm, Mediterranean country, I find the generally negative Anglo-Saxon/American attitude towards briefs slightly amusing, especially when it is not inspired by underlying preoccupations with propriety and false modesty. In that case, it is rather annoying. If wearing my very modest, wide, black Armani swimming brief- makes me look ‘euro-trash’, ‘gay’, ‘undressed’, etc., in the eyes of the north-American/English male, please permit me to find equally ridiculous, and aesthetically displeasing those huge, board shorts, in black, grey, or with patterns, that weigh a ton when one comes out of the water. They go perfectly well with uncut toe nails! As far as the comment on ‘untoned upper thighs exposed’ by wearing briefs, is concerned, if a man leads a normal life, and is not obese, his legs, even if they do not belong to a gym bunny, are probably the most exercised part of his body. And having seen, thousands of tourists who have never been abroad before, in modest, just-above -the -calf-manly shorts, roaming our coasts drunk, loud, and out of order, I am more than inclined to forgive a not-so-perfect body in a brief. Aesthetics and style are a matter of education and general comportment, not necessarily of fabric length and width.

Za Posted On 7th June 2013:

Thanks for putting my thoughts in words!

Tj Posted On 7th June 2013:

Nicely put!

Mauricio Posted On 7th June 2013:

I could no agree more with you Leon. And for those who have been on holiday in many mediterranean counties or on the beautiful beaches in Brazil will see the men in all shapes, age and size wear swim briefs and no one find them ridiculous.

Andy Posted On 7th June 2013:

I posted a very similar comment to yours last year – you couldn’t expressed my sentiments better, but I’ll reiterate just to emphasise our point of mutual agreement. If you have the figure for it, a swim-brief is the most comfortable and practical thing to wear. It offers proper support, near-zero drag while swimming, it doesn’t balloon out on entering the water and on exiting it doesn’t stick uncomfortably and limply to your legs, dripping a steady stream of water – it dries in around 15 minutes. What’s unsightly is not the outline of somebody’s penis, but beer bellies, fat thighs, back hair, cellulite, and sagging breasts – all of which are visible in abundance at the beach.

Hal Posted On 7th June 2013:

Did anyone here say that it looked ‘euro-trash’, ‘gay’ or ‘underdressed’? I must have missed it if they did.

I have witnessed people acting in an obnoxious manner dressed in all manner of ways – I’m not entirely sure that really effects what clothes are most flattering for them.

Simon Posted On 7th June 2013:

Nobody mentioned “under-dressed”, “gay” or “euro-trash” in any of the posts prior to yours dude, you seem to be acting on previous provocation. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, I simply wanted to point out that the speedos/swim briefs look is not a safe one, in that while I appreciate the look on muscly hunks, I don’t think I know anybody who appreciates the aesthetic qualities of a 50+ year old man with flabby thighs and a beer belly parading the beach in his skimpy yellow speedos, which, inevitably is what happens to such trends, whether other people carry it off well or not. Board shorts on the other hand can look good on most people, and at least hide the upper thighs, if not the belly. I don’t think education is really anything to do with it. Concerning the state of the “average man”‘s legs, I would reply that the “average” job of the moment seems to be office worker, whose legs sit in a car on the way to work, at a desk all day and then in a car all the way home with very little movement; without exercise, the body degrades quite quickly, unfortunately. On another note, what I think this really highlights is the fact that Brits have an overwhelming feeling of embarrassment and timidity in anything concerning exposure of their bodies, something the rest of the world doesn’t share. I certainly feel somewhat embarrassed for people I see wearing speedos in public (gladiator belt optional), and I would feel very awkward if it were myself. I admire those in the Mediterranean for being able to wear such things unabashed, but at the same time I reserve the right to not appreciate the bulges that often follow.

Alec Posted On 8th June 2013:

With you on this, Leon!!

Sven A.h Posted On 10th September 2013:

I totally agree with you! I’m from Germany and love to wear men’s bikini swimwear at the beach. It helps Having very little body fat in a bikini, but people (fat Americans) just look annoyed and confused …then they put more corn chips in their mouth. I am amazed how many men and a few woman are almost offended because they have never traveled anywhere and think Budweiser is beer and speedos are for skinny gay men. How sad to be so narrow minded!

Steve Posted On 7th June 2013:

As a 40-year-old American man who is not a muscular hunk, but is in decent shape, I have been wearing brief and trunk style suits since about 2000. I finally got the nerve to do it after moving to Europe for my job and I haven’t looked back. My wife is still uncomfortable with the stereotype of ‘gay’ that often accompanies them in the US, so sometimes I wear a short loose-fitting suit while in the US. On our next trip which begins in a couple of days, however, I am only taking an Aussiebum trunk (in the above article it is the style with light blue and white). For me, the fit and feeling of these styles are much better than the baggier suits, especially board shorts. I am happy to see that these styles are gaining in popularity in the US and I hope that the options and acceptability of them continue to increase.

Tj Posted On 7th June 2013:

Way to go, Steve.

Leon Posted On 8th June 2013:

As I am now officially branded the Defender of the TMSC (tiny mens swimming costume), I feel the need to explain that I am not particularly keen on small, tight, swimmer speedos, or in wearing them paired with shorts and sandals. Lets leave that to the catwalk, where designers aim to provoke. And I was provoked; provoked to think about nudity, exposure, ideals and stereotypes. I spent my childhood and early years by the water in extreme heat, so most people around me where half-naked all the time. That is not always pleasant aesthetically, and extreme choices of all kinds (big ladies in small bikinis, very old men in tiny briefs, etc.) did not go unnoticed. This early and steady exposure, however, to the reality of the human body in all its possible versions, makes us less harsh on our judgements, more conscious of our bodies in a non-competitive/hysterical way (i.e. to think that a little bit of diet and more exercise in early spring is what it takes, and not to feel suicidal for not having visible abs), and therefore, happier with what we have (as it is constantly seen against so many versions, some better in some respects and some not). By leaving the domain of such exposure to models, demigods, and the like, we overemphasise a body-fascist, competitive perception of beauty (most abs in fashion are a combination of genetics and hard work of course, but in the photographs, they are emphasised by lack of hydration in preparation for a shoot, uncomfortable squeezing of the muscles in a particular pose, make-up, and post-production photoshop), that becomes an unattainable ideal for most, makes people uncomfortable even if they have perfectly normal bodies, and, most importantly, perpetuates stereotypes about, and negative attitudes towards our and others’ bodies. The truth of the matter when it comes to exposure of the body is that there are times and places when/where it is appropriate to do it. As more and more young and not-so-young men join the gyms (to enlarge and expose artificially muscles they don’t necessarily need) we see more and more flesh everyday, (following the mantra ‘if you have it, flaunt it’). I didn’t see much of the famous british sense of embarrassment and timidity these past few hot days in London, when every man worth his gym-membership was more than eager to get rid of his shirt, or appear in a tight vest, in the parks, and even in squares and passing through common greens. That probably means that people are now educated (by magazines and at the Abercrombie & Fitch academies) not only to think exposure more appropriate when they achieve a result that brings them closer to model-godhood, but absolutely necessary, as there is no point in having the bulges in the first place, if they are not laid out to be viewed, admired, and envied.

STEVE we are with you.

Mark Posted On 8th June 2013:

Leon, I totally agree that it would be great if we were less competitive and self-concious in a quasi-hysterical manner about our more naked forms. But that doesn’t really change the point of the argument, which ought to be about whether or not this clothing is flattering. This style choice ought to be judged (if at all) by the same measure that other clothing is and, IMO, they are not flattering in any way, shape or form. If I described sandals and white socks as self-expression and freedom that wouldn’t change whether it looked any good, now would it. Simon has quite eloquently made the rest of the arguments, and though your brief-wearing carefree attitude may be impressive, and please feel free to your own form of self-expression, but as wide a smile as you may glean, I’m not going to be convinced that these look good on anyone.

Simon Posted On 8th June 2013:

I didn’t mean for this to become all-out warfare, yeesh.. Thanks Mark, you seem to have summed up a perfect compromise stance, I wholeheartedly agree with your viewpoint :)

Julian Gregory Posted On 9th June 2013:

I hear your concerns regarding swim briefs only looking great on muscly guys and being a slim build myself i have the same reservations. The USP of D.HEDRAL’s beachwear is that they offer sizes specific to your frame so whether you have a slim build, average or muscular you can still look great and feel confident on the beach without the concern of sagging / not filling-out the briefs (which has always been my concern)…

Globalaza Posted On 18th November 2013:

I agree with the commentary that small swim trunks for men, like all fashion or style, needs to consider the wearer and what looks good on the wearer, and what the wearer is trying to do with his style. Too often, (mostly American) men get hung up on silly, childish, notions about everyone else is going to “say” about them. If the trunks look good on you, and you like them too, wear them! Unfortunately, women appear to dictate what a guy can wear on the beach in the US. If a guy thinks the girls won’t like it, or their friends will laugh (because girls won’t like it), then that guy is far from being an individual, and perhaps he should stay home with the other men too afraid to have style independence or make decisions for themselves. All clothing should only be worn if it is flattering, practical and projects individual style. If short trunks do that, wear them. If you don’t think your legs or stomach or chest don’t help the trunks look good on you or the garment doesn’t flatter or support your style, don’t wear them. It’s an individual choice a man should make on his own. If you don’t like the way they look on the “flabby 50+” (and have made it your job to be the beach fashion patrol), just be sure you aren’t the flabby 50 when that time comes, and leave others alone. If ill-fitting, body UN-conscious beach clothes work for you, great, although I don’t think they somehow make a person look better as if board shorts miraculously hide fat bellies. In short, grow up.

Kevin Posted On 11th January 2014:

There is nothing wrong with brief swimwear as long as you are in decent shape. Briefs are comfortable, cool, and less restrictive when swimming and sunbathing. Advice: Don’t let anyone tell you what to wear. If they don’t like it…they can look away.

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